Suction cleaner agitator



1936; D. G. SMELLIE Re. 20,073

SUCTION CLEANER AGITATOR Original Filed July 19, 1929 2 Sheets-Shea; 1

1936- D. G. SMELLIE Re. 20,073

SUCTION CLEANER AGITATQR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed July 19, 1929 gri Reissued M5. 18, 1936 UNITED. STATES sucrron creme AGITATOB.

Donald G. Smeiiie, Canton, 01m, assignor to The Hoover Company, a' corporation of Ohio Original No. 1,942,497, dated January 9, 1934,

Serial No. 379,412, July 19, 1929.

Application for reissue November 30, 1934, Serial No.

Claims.

The present invention relates to suction cleaners and. more particularly to rotary agitating members for suction cleaners. The invention is directed particularly to that improvement in the construction of rotary agitating members for suction cleaners wherein the length of bristles projecting from the body of said agitator is made variable.

The object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved suction cleaner agitator. A further object is the provision of an a8 tating member in which the brush members have longer life than in the usual suction cleaner rotor. A still further object is the provision of an improved suction cleaner rotor construction embodying adjusting means adapted to vary the effective length of the sweeping brushes. Another object is the provision of an improved rotary agitator construction in which the sweeping brushes are easily r placeable. still another object of the invention is the provision of a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner in which the brushes are radially adjustable to compensate for wear, the eii'ective bristle length for flexing remaining constant with constant radial projection of the brush regardless of the adjustment of the brush-adjusting means; Other and more speciiic objectswill appear upon reading the specification and upon consideration of the drawings annexed thereto.

In the drawings in which like reference characters refer to like parts throughout:

Figure 1 discloses a rotary agitator constructed in accordance with the present invention with certain parts broken away.

. Figure 2 is a cross section upon the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure3isa crosssectionupontheline 3-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation of -a tuft of bristles and the securing means used in the embodiment shownin Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a view in perspective of the securing and adjusting wire for the tuit of bristles shown in Figure 4.

Figure 6 shows the initial step in securing a tuft of bristles in the. rotor body of the embodiment shown in Figure 1.

Figure '1' discloses a side elevation of a modification of the present invention with certain parts broken'away.

,Figureliisacrosssection upon the line H of Figure '1.

Figure 9 discloses a side elevation of a still furthe: embodiment ofthe present invention with which extend in helical rows in opposite directions around said body from end to end thereof; the 10 individual seats of the rows being axially staggered relative to each other. Positioned approximately in the center of the body I i is the belt-receiving pulley l3 adapted to receive a driving belt 15 in the operation of the rotor in a suction cleane to provide rotation.

Positioned within the body member I l and e tending substantially the length thereof is the tubular member H which is non-rotatably held relative to the body II by the screw [5 which ex- 20 tends through said body member into said tubular member I and which is adapted to be seated in a plurality of seats I 6, it upon the surface of said porting rod l1. Body member ii is provided near its respective ends with inwardly extending shoulders I! which serve to support the ends oi. tubular member I! and so maintain that member in axial alinement and which also provide the base 3 20 of the bearing seat 2!. A bearing 22 of any suitable design is positioned within the seat 2| enclosing the end of the supporting member I! in rotatable relation. A nut-member 23 is positioned on the threaded end 24 of member l1 and 5 serves to secure bearing 22 in itsv seat 2|. In the operation of the rotor in a suction cleaner the supporting member I1 is non-rotatably mounted and the rotor body II with the tubular body It 40 rotate relative thereto upon the bearings 22, 22.

- Seated within each of the brush seats, I2, I 2

of the rotor body II are tufts or bristles 25, 25, etc. each of which is locked within a cup member 26 by means of a securing wire 21 as shown 5 in Figures 2 and 4. The wire 21 extends from the cup 26 through the seat l2 and into the body proper ll of the rotor where it lies in a circular groove 28, such a groove being positioned in said body at the base of each tuft seat l2. Each wire V21 is provided with a. bent end portion 29 which is securely seated within an opening 30 in the tubular member II. The radial openings 30 in the tubular member ll extend in spiral rows thereon having the same angle of advance as 55 length of the brush bristles decreases with wear and it becomes necessary from time to time, in

upon

the ordinary agitating member, to replace the bristles. In the agitator constructed in accordance with the present invention, it is only necessary when it is desired to lengthen the bristles after their effective length has been shortened by wear, to loosen the screw l5, thereby disengaging it from one of the plurality of seats IS on the body II, and to rotate the tubular member I4 relative to body II by advancing screw l5 to a new seat. With the rotation of the tubular member l4 in a clockwise direction relative to the body member H, as shown in Figure 2, it is clear that the wire 21 will be projected a greater distance into the brush seat l2 resulting in the increased projection of the tuft 25 therefrom. With bristles adjusted to the desired length through the rotation of the member i4 the screw I5 is tightened and the rotor is again ready for use. In the event that it is desired to decrease the effective length of the bristles it is only necessary to rotate the tubular member l4 in the counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Figure 2.

The initial securing of the bristle tuft within the rotor body, see Figure 6, is accomplished by the rotation of the tubular member I4 in the body ll until the openings 39, 39 therein are immediately below the openings in the brush seats l2, l2 at which time the wires 21, 21 may be inserted through said tuft seats and the bent end 29, 29 thereof secured in said openings. When the respective wires 21, 21 attached to the tufts of bristles have been secured in their respective openings 39, 39 the rotation of the member l4 in the counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 6, carries the wires into the grooves 29, 29 in the body II and presents the disengagement of the ends 29, 29 and the openings 39, 39, as shown in Figure 2.

Referring now to Figures '1 and 8 which disclose a modification of the present invention the agitator or rotor comprises a central tubular member 3| which is provided approximately midway of its length with a large diameter belt-receiving pulley 32. Positioned upon the opposite sides of the pulley 32 are circular flanges, as indicated at 33, for a purpose hereinafter described. Positioned within the member 3| and extending the length thereof is a supporting rod 34 upon which the remainder of the agitator is rotatably mounted. Positioned 'upon the opposite sides of.

the pulley 32 and totally enclosing member 3| are cylindrical shells 35, 35 which form the body of the agitator and which are provided with heliends of each of the body shells 35, 35 and are provided with inwardly extending cylindrical portions as indicated at 4| ending in a shoulder 42. A reduced cylindrical portion 43 extends inwardly from the shoulder 42 into the member- 3| and serves to position the end plate 49 and maintain the outer end of the'shell 35 in ax al,

alinement with the member. Pomtionedupon the supporting rod 34 at the respective ends thereof are bearings 44, 44, theouter race of each being carried in the cylindrical portion 4| of an end plate 49. A nut member 45 secured at the extremity of the member 34 compresses a washer 49 against the bearing 44 and retains the bearing 44 in position upon said member. A spring 41 is positioned between the shoulder 420i the end plate 49 and the bearing 44 which serves at all times to urge the body shell 35, through the end plate 49, in the direction of pulley 32 thereby maintaining flange 31 and the teeth 39 carried thereby in contact with the flange 33 and the teeth 39 positioned thereon. Fixedly carried by member 3i and projecting from each shell 35 of the body through the brush seat or open- Gil ing formed by the inwardly extending converging walls 49 and 49 are brushes 59, 59 secured by means 5| comprising a screw member which passes through the holder 52 of said brush 59 and into the body 3|. The walls 49 and 49 closely approach each other near the member 3| so transverse cross section, as it passes that point. In operation the brush will be flexed as it contacts a surface covering undergoing cleaning, the flexible length obviously being the distance from the narrowest part of the brush seat, as determined by the distance between the walls 49 and 49, to the outer extremity of the brush bristles. The brush should always be so adjusted that it projects to substantially theheight of the beater bars 39, 39 above the normal body .surface. When so adjust the effective flexible brush length is always e same, regardless of the position of the brush-adjusting mechanism.

The adjustment of the eifective length of a brush 59 is accomplished by the rotation ofa shell 35 relative to the main tubular member 3|. A- slight longitudinal movement of the shell 35 in the direction of the end of the rotor against the action of the spring 41 disengages the meeting teeth 39 and 39 and permits relative rotational movement between itself and member 3i. The rotation of the shell 35 in a counter-clockwise direction, as shown in Figure 8, results in the advance of the brush 59 between the walls 49 and 49 and in an increase in the effective height of said brush above the surface of the body. Upon the brush 59 being adjusted to the desired height above the surface of the shell 35 the shell is released. The spring 41 forces said shell inwardly'causing the teeth 39 and 39 to again mesh and the rotor is again in operative relation. If it is desired to decrease the effective length of the bristles the shell 35 is rotated in a clockwise direction relative to the member 3| in the manner aforedescribed.

Referring now to Figures 9 and 10 a still further modification of the present invention is disclosed in which the rotor body 53 is rotatably carried by supporting rod 54 by means of bearlugs 55 at the ends thereof. The rotor body is providedswith a pulley 53 near its center and with helically extending beater bars 51 on its surface. longitudinally extending inwardly projecting converging walls 59 and 59 are formed in the body 53 upon each side of the pulley 59 formingbrush seats which are adapted to compress the brush bristles passing therethrough to determine the effective bending length of brush seated therein. Pivotally mounted thin the body upon each side of the pulley bymeans of a that the brush is compact, at any particular supportingpin 99 is alever arm 9!. The end of lever arm BI is provided with resilient clamping laws '2 and II which are adapted to receive and retain the back 84 of the sweeping brush "and which are so positioned that with the member 84 seated within said jaws the brush it is adapted to project between the walls N and I and beyond the surface of the shell IL The variation in the eflective length of the brush '5 above the surface of the body II of the rotor is'accomplished through the pivoting of lever arm Ii about the point ill by means ofthe internally threaded adjustment member 6! which is connected to the armfil at I! and whichisadapted to be advanced and retracted by screw member 68 extending therein. Screw member II is rotatably mounted in the shell 53 with its head positioned within a depressed seat 6! in the suriace thereof. It is only necessary when it is desired to adjust either brush II, which must project a distance above the rotor body equal to or slightly greater than the height of beater bars 51 in order to be eiiective, to turn the screw 8! which is positioned on the same side of the pulley with said brush.

It should also be ment of the supporting lever arm I and the members It and 88 in circumferentially-spaced positions from the brush and its seat in the agitator body serves to provides better balanced agitator than is the case where both the brush, its seat, and the adjusting means are on the same side of the longitudinal axis. It is further to be noted that the positioning of the brush seat and the brush at an angle to the radius of the agitator makes possible the use of a longer brush resulting in longer life and the ability to provide a greater length oi, unsupported bristles, a very desirable characteristic particularly when the agitator is of a relatively small diameter.

I claim: a

1. In a suction cleaner agitator, a rotatable hollow closed main body, re-entrant walls in said body forming a brush seat, a brush positioned in said brush seat, retaining means for said brush, and means to adjust the position of said retaining means relative to said brush seat comprising a lever arm pivoted in said body and attached to said retaining means, and means operable from the exterior of said body to pivot said lever arm about its pivot point.

2. In a suction cleaner agitator, a rotatable and enclosed main body, re-entrant walls in said main body forming a brush seat, a brush positioned in said brush seat, retaining means for said brush and means'to adjust the pimition of said retaining means relative to said brush seat comprising a lever arm pivoted to said body and attached to said retaining means, an internally threaded member hingedly carried by said pivoted lever and an externally threaded member rotatably mounted in said main body and positioned within said internally threaded member. g

3. In a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, ahollowbody,abrushseatiormedinsaidbody, abriishinsaidmretaining means fox-said brush, and means to adjust the position of said retaining means relative to said brimh seat, characterized by the fact that a part of said positioning means is spaced eircinnferentially-from said brushandbmshseatiorthepurposeoidynamically balancim said agitator. a

4. In a rotary agitator tor a hollow suction cleaner, a rotary body, a shaft rotatably support ing said-body and extended therethrough, an elongated inwardly extending brush seat in said pointed out that the arrangeriph'ery of said body to render said brush pracbody, and an elongated brush having a rigid back positioned in said brush seat and extended inwardlytotheside of said shaft.

5. In a suction cleaner, a cylindrical revolubly mounted body, a supporting shaft extending through said body, said body having a relatively deep channel formed in its periphery.'and a brush mounted in said channel so that a substantial part thereof is located below the petically non-fouling, characterized by the fact that said brush lies at an angle to the normal to the surface of said body at the point at which it extends therethrough and extends inwardly to a position at the side of said shaft.

6. In a rotary agitator, an exterior hollow body formed with a brush channel leading from its interior to its exterior, an elongated member positioned in said body, means to secure said body inone of a plurality of angularly spaced 9 circumferential positions relative to'said member, a brush connected to the periphery of said member and extended through said channel being adapted to be positioned therein by changes in the relative positions of said body and said 25 member, and means to rotatabiy support said agitator.

7. In a rotary agitator, an exterior hollow body having a brush channel leading from its interior to its exterior, an interior member within 30 said body adapted to be moved axially and rotated'relative to said body, circumferentially extending intermeshing gear teeth on said body and on said member, a brush connected to the exterior of said member and positioned in said 35 and means to prevent unintended movement of said body relative to said member, characterized by the iact that the rotation of said body relative to said member varies the distance from said seat to the point of connection of said brush to said member eii'ecting the adjusting of said brush in said seat.

9. In a suction cleaner agitator, a hollow body formed with a brush seat having inwardly con verging side walls, a brush having bristles subject to shortening by wear extended from within said body outwardly through said brush seat and to a point beyond the surface of said body. said seat closely. enclosing said brush at its narrowest part and flaring outwardly therefrom to its widest part, said seat thereby fixing the eflective length of said brush' bristls subject to flexure.

body to compensate for bristle wear.

10. In a suction cleaner agitator, a rotatable closed hollow body formed with a brush seat having inwardly converging side walls, a 'brush and means to adjust said brush relative to said having bristles extended from within said body outwardly through said brush seat and to apoint beyond'said seat, thewalls ofsaidseat enclosingand compactly holding said brush bristles at a. point within said body, and means-within said bodytoadiiutsaidbrusbtoioroe saldbrushn bristles past said point to control the projection of said brush bristles from said seat.

11. In a rotary agitator for a suction cleaner, a rotatable body formed with a brush seat, a brush including flexible bristles positioned in said body, said seat converging on said'brush bristles at a point spaced radially within the surface of said body to secure said bristles compactly and being spaced therefrom at the surface of said body to permit free bristle movement, said brush being slidable inwardly or outwardly in said seat. I

12. In an agitator for a suction cleaner, a body formed with an elongated brush seat, an elongated brush having bristles extended from a point within said body and from said seat to a point beyond said body. said seat including elongated walls converging into contact with said bristles between their ends and below the suriaceoi said body and determining the eifective flexible length oi said bristles.

13. In an agitator for a suction cleaner, a rotary cylindrical body, a brush including flexible bristles, and means seating said brush on said body including a seat having a wall spaced circumierentially from said brush at the surface oi said body and extended into contact therewith at a point spaced radially within said body, said brush being adapted to be flexed about said point and into contact with said wall in the operation v of said agitator. '5 14. In an agitator for a suction cleaner, a rotary cylindrical body, a brush seat adapted to seat a brush having flexible bristles, said seat including opposed walls circumferentially spaced at the suriace oi said body which walls con- 10 verge within said body and then diverge, said walls being adapted to enclose closely the bristles 01a brush at their point of convergence. 15. In a rotary. agitator for suction cleaners, a rotatably body formed with a substantially radial 15 seat adapted to retain a brush therein having a row of bristle tufts, said seat including side walls having their outer edges spaced circumierentially at the surface of said body and converging radially inward to a slot of predetermined re- 20 duced width through which said bristles extend as a compressed mass and from thence to project from said seat relatively free and flexible.

DONALD G. SMELLI'E. 

